Art & music makers: not your average craft fair

Blackstone Valley Tribune
August 2017

BY RAYANNE COOMBS
TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT

WHITINSVILLE – As part of its vital mission to promote cultural activities in the Blackstone Valley, ValleyCAST will once again be hosting its annual Art & Music Makers Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Alternative’s Whitin Mill, located at 50 Douglas Road. The free festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a variety of talented artisans selling their wares and demonstrating how their unique arts are crafted.

The Arts & Music Makers Festival will showcase oneof-a-kind arts and crafts, hands on art opportunities, and children’s crafts, from artisans that include Apple Tree Arts, Beckwith Strings, Bird Brain Designs, Chevere, Inc., The Green Plate, Hand Crafted Reproduction Riffles by Stephen Paulson, Knitted Goods by David Lane, Jen Niles Art, Kat’s Glass, Jewelry by Lisa Fracalosi, Jewelry by Liz Nye, Painting and Crafts by Monique Guillory, Pottery by Gabrielle Gura-GoldTemari, Weaving by Terri Whitney, and Woodwork by Wayne Yacino.

Live music will also be performed at the Festival and will feature musical presentation by The Blackstone Valley Quartet, CJ Staff and Vito Caccavelli & Company. The Blackstone Valley Quartet has been performing locally for fifteen years, providing free community concerts as part of their mission is to bring quality music to the community in the Blackstone Valley area and beyond. Art making opportunities at the Festival will be hands-on fun for all ages. Featured art-forms include Saori Weaving Looms, Zentangle instruction from Elisa’s Now and Zen, children’s arts and crafts from the Artist’s Palette Studio, and a pottery throwing demonstration.

Food will be available for purchase from Jeremiah’s Ice Cream Truck, and the Northbridge Middle School Drama Club will have snacks and drinks for sale to benefit their club. You can learn more about the Art & Music Makers Festival and view the full list of vendors, musicians and food trucks at AlternativesNet.org/ValleyCAST/Festival. This year’s event is sponsored in part by Boston Financial Management and Wiersma Insurance.

The rain date for this year’s event will be Saturday, September 16. ValleyCAST (Blackstone Valley Culture, Arts, Science, Together) is dedicated to preserving the cultural vitality of the Blackstone Valley by supporting a creative and inclusive community. It hosts events, like the Art & Music Makers Festival, that bring people of all ages, abilities and walks of life together. ValleyCAST is a subsidiary of Alternatives, which helps individuals with disabilities build meaningful lives in the community – lives that include real homes, real jobs and real relationships. For more information about ValleyCAST and Alternatives, call 508-234-6232 or visit www. AlternativesNet.org